Cup making machine



March 17, 1942.

H. s. LABOMBARDE CUP MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 17, 1942.

H. s. LABOMB ARDE 2,276,318

CUP MAKiNG MACHINE Filed June 22, 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 March 17, 1942. s. LABOMBARDE 1 CUP MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 19:58 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 w% e a R M. g; @1 1 m I I w lnwiln 1 w M a Q g m/ u@ m u an W V I A N T r1 Q5 i m W W L MN ,Q R w/fwwj mm m 7g fi 1 Q Q d a j an, \IR QM March 17, 1942. {.L SLABQMBARDE I 2,276,318

CUP MAKING MACHINE 7 Filed June 22, 1:938 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 EMEEZUE Mrch 1942- i H. s. LABOMBARDE 2,276,318

CUP MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 193a 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 E JF- 69 e I 70 I a 67 66 6 7- V) Q "9,

March 17, 1942. H. s. LABOMBARDE 2,276,318

cur MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 ,w ma

fi /di Jiavmhgfde.

March 17, 1942. H. s. LABOMBARDE CUP MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 -March 17, 1942i H. s. LABOMBARDE 2,276,313,

cqP'MAK-me MACHINE Filed June 22, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 1.2?25- Eig 25 Mad! 1 H. S.LABOMB ARDE GUP MAKING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed June 22, 1938 i@i@i@i@iil llll llll

i Kim March 17, l942.- H. s. LABOMBARDE I 2,276,318

quP MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Mar. 17, 1942 CUP MAKING MACHINE Harold -S. Labombarde, Nashua, N. H., assignor to Dixie-Vortex Company, Chicago, 111., a oorpo-' ration of Delaware Application June 22, 1938, Serial No. 215,123

31 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a cup making machine, highly desirable for the' manufacture of paper cups of the character used for drinking, ice cream packaging, etc., of such economical character as to usually be discarded after a single usage, although the invention may have other,uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The present invention embodies divisional subject matter from the invention set forth and described in my copending application for patent entitled Method and machine for making tapered cups, filed June 29, 1936, Serial No. 87,628, and this application is a continuation in part of my aforesaid copending application.

In the manufacture of paper containers of the character of drinking and ice cream cups which are usually discarded after a single usage, economy of production is an essential. Economy of production 'is determined to a considerable extent by the ease, facility, and rapidity with which the paper stock may be handled and formed into paper cups. Rapidity is a very important factor. Heretofore, in the manufacture of paper cups, it has been customary to use what may be termed a forming mandrel around which the paper is shaped into a cup, and then the cup is either discharged or stripped from the mandrel. With the use of such a mandrel; the rapidity of manufacture is necessarily delayed both by the fact that the paper must be shaped around and on the mandrel and then must be taken off the mandrel in some manner. With paper cups of a.

substantially wedge-shape, that is, sloping in all directions towardsa transverse seam defining a bottom fold-up, which seam is in the nature of a line, the shaping of a paper blank around and on a mandrel results in much slower production than is desired.

In connection with machines for manufacturing paper cups as known heretofore, particularly wedge-shaped cups, the handling of the blank also resulted in too slow a production. It is dea machine, for making containers such as paper cups or the like, in which the main and various forming mechanisms are rotary as distinguished from any reciprocatory movement, thereby adding to the rapidity of manufacture.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for makingcontainers, directed towards speed and economy of production without sacrifice of efliciency and stability of the finished product, and in which all driven parts are preferably under continuous operation.

Also an object of the invention is the provision of a machine for making paper cups in which the blanks undergoing formation follow one another in single file through the machine with a plurality of blanks undergoing formation at the same time, although the blanks will be at different stages of completion.

It is also a feature of the present machine to form a blank of stock into a paper cup without the use of a mandrel or any means around or on which the paper blank is formed. In other words, the blank is shaped without anything being disposed within the cup undergoing formation.

Another'feature of the invention is the provision of a machine for making paper cups embodying forming means entirely exteriorly of the blank undergoing formation, and which act on the blank only, folding parts of the blank upon itself to shape the blank into a cup.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machinefor forming paper cups, in which machine a blank is caused to continuously follow a predetermined path, with forming means entirely exteriorly of the'blank acting on the blank as it passes by, the forming and shaping members being either entirely stationary or, if moving, fixed in location relatively to the path of travel of the blank. v

Also a feature of the invention is the provision of a paper cup machine, in which separate forming units are positioned each to shape a different part of a blank as the blank passes by the respection upon tive units, and conveying means for the blank arranged to grip the blank and carry it by said units, the conveying means being further arranged to vary the locations of the grip on the blank from time to time to permit proper operathe blank by the respective forming units.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a paper cup machine embodying feeding or conveying means arranged in a series of units staggered relatively to a predetermined path of travel of a blank undergoing formation, and forming means also staggered relatively to 2 said path of travel but oppositely to the feeding and conveying means.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a paper cupmaking machine embodying forming elements each arranged to act on a plurality of blanks foliowing'each other in rapid order before the forming elements assume their original positions.

Still a further feature of the invention is the provision of a paper cup ma machine in which continuously rotating forming means are utilized, the forming means being disposed in spaced locatime to act upon a blank as it is carried thereby.

All the registering, scoring, folding, gluing and drying operations are rotary as distinguished from plunger or other reclprocatory operations. All of these operations, such as folding, gluing and nesting in the receiving mechanism are performed while the blank undergoing formation travels forward constantly at a continuous uniform speed along a predetermined path.

It will, of course, be apparent that the disclosure of the invention herein includes a novel method of making paper cups which is more fully set forth and claimed in my aforesaid copending application, as well as novel receiving mechanism and novel feeding or conveying mechanism, which respective mechanisms are each more fully set forth and claimed in two other copending ap plications.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures taken in conjunction with the accompanying i the first scoring line has been put thereupon;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the, blank after another operation in which added scorelines are provided;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank after the first side fold has been made;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the structure of Fizure 4 illustrating the application of glue or other adhesive to the blank;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank after the second side fold has been made;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 6 after a score line for the bottom fold-up has been provided;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the blank of Figure 7 after the bottom fold-up has been completed, this figure being also a plan or elevational view of the finished cup;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the finished cup;

Figure 10 is a view of the finished cup looking into the open end thereof;

Figure 11 ,is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine, the side walls and side frame structures being removed for. the purpose of sectional view of the structure at the upper right hand portion of Figure 11, illustrating the mechanism for removing a, blank from the hopper;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the staggered line XIV-XIV of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the structure seen in the right central portirn of Figure 11;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line XVI-XVI of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view, with parts in elevation and parts omitted, taken substantially as indicated by the line XVII-XVII of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, with parts omitted, taken substantially as indicated by the line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 16;

Figure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the main scoring roller taken substantially as indicated by the line XIX-XIX of Figure 16;

Figure 20 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the structure seen in the central portion of Figure 11; v

Figure 21 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line xrn-xxr of Figure 20, with parts omitted;

Figure 22 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line XXII-XX1I of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken substantially as indicated by the line XXIII-XXIII of Figure 20;

Figure 24 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure seen in the left central portionof Fig- Figure 25 is-a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line ION-XXV of Figure 24;

Figure 26 is a fragmentary elevatlonal view of the glue applying roller and backing roller therefor;

Figure 27 isa vertical sectional view showing the glue applying roller in elevation;

Figure 28 is a plan development of the circumference of the glue applying roller;

Figure 29 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, with parts omitted, taken substantially as indicated by the line XXIX-XXIX of Figure 24; l

Figure 30 is a fragmentary plan viewof the structure seen in the left hand portion of Figure "Figure 31 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line XXXI-XXKI of Figure 30;

Figure 32 is a fragmentary plan view of the receiving mechanism seen in the lower right hand portion of Figure 11; and Figure 33 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken substantially as indicated. by the line XXXHI- XXXIII of Figure 32.

THE BLANK, CUP, AND METHOD IN GENERAL The illustrated embodiment of the present in-.

vention is in the nature of a machine to form wedge-shaped paper cups from pre-cut blanks of stock. The stock may be any suitable paper, such as is commonly used for the forming of paper drinking cups, preferably of the so-called dry wax type, which paper is impregnated with ,ing means as the blank passes thereby in its continuous travel. Nothing is placed on the 'blank or within the blank around which the blank is formed, the blank being folded entirely upon itself, thereby resulting in the elimination of the customary mandrel and also the elimination of the operation of removing the blank from a mandrel.

During its course of travel, the conveying means firmly hold the blank, but the grip of the conveying means upon the blank is periodically shifted from one location to another to leave free the corresponding portion of the blank upon which a forming element is to act'at a particular time and location during the travel of the blank.

For the purpose of clarity, the general steps in the making of the container, without reference to the mechanism embodied in the machine, will first be described in connection with Figures 1 to 11, inclusive.

In Figure 1, a blank I is illustrated just as it is withdrawn from the hopper and about to begin its travel through tli'e machine. The blank I is generally of the shape of a sector and ineludes an arcuate edge 2, the trailing edge during the travel of the blank, and which edge defines the mouth of the finished cup. The blank also embodies a pair of convergingside edges 3 and 4 leading from opposite ends of the arcuate edge 2 to a pair of transverse edge portions 5 and 6 respectively which terminate in an outwardly extending centrally disposed tab I. The axis of the blank extends centrally through the tab I and both halves of the blank are symmetrical.

After the blank is drawn from the hopper, it is next centered relatively to the conveying means so that it will be disposed in its proper position and thus. meet the various forming mechanisms at the proper time in their opera-v tion, it being recalled that the forming mechanisms preferably move continuously. After being centered, the blank is carried forward by the conveying mechanism and is next provided with a score line 8 (Figure 2) which extends transversely across the base of the tab I. This score line weakens the tab 1 so that the tab will not tend to spring away from the body of the blank when it is folded and glued thereagainst. Immediately following the application of the score line 8, the blank is next provided with a pair of spaced score lines 9 and I0 emanating from opposite ends of the score line 8 and diverging towards the arcuate edge 2 (Figure 3). The score lines 9 and I0 define side tabs adjacent the edges 3 and 4 respectivelyto be folded over the central portion ofthe blank.

After the initial scoring has thus been completed, the tab defined by the edge 4 is folded inwardly over the body of the blank forming a crease ma coinciding with the score line It. With reference to Figure 5, it will be seen that the next operation is the application of a stripe of glue on the outer face of the folded side flap adjacent the edge 4, this stripe of glue extending downwardly beyond the edge portion 6 and onto the inner face of the tab I. Then the other side fiap adjacent the edge 3 is folded over so that the. margin thereof overlies the glue stripe II, and this flap is pressed firmly into position forming a crease 9a coinciding with the score line 9.

With reference to Figure I, it will be seen that the next operation is the provision of a transverse score line I2 across the end portions of the foldedfiaps to define a line of fold-up for the bottom closure flap. The bottom portion of the vessel is next folded up to form a bottom I2a for the cup coinciding with the score line I2, the

adhesive on the inner face of the tab I scour-- ing this bottom fold-up to the body portion of the cup. With the pressing into place of the bottom fold-up, the forming operations are completed. It is then only necessary to hold the cup firmly gripped over the glued parts until the glue hashad a reasonable time to set, when the container may be expanded and stacked in nested relationship with other containers in the receiving mechanism.

Tim'MscnINn IN GENERAL For the purpose of clarity herein, the different portions of the machine will be described separately and in the order in which each portion acts upon a blank traveling through the machine. of course, it is understood that the machine is not actually divided up into separate portions, it

being a complete machine arranged for continuous operation and continuous movement of a blank once it starts until it is discharged in f the form of a finished cup.

Sectionalizing the machine, therefore, for the.

purpose of clarity only, with reference to Figure 11, it will be seen that in the first portion of the machine generally indicated by numeral I3, blanks are removed in successive order from a hopper by a suitable combing roll operating in association with a friction applying construction.

In the next portion, generally indicated by numeral 14, the blank is taken by the initial feeding means, properly registered or centered in respect to the feeding means so that'the blanks will each subsequently reach the forming means at the proper time, and the first scoring operations are performed upon the blank.

In the next portion of the machine, generally indicated by numeral l5, each blank is positively gripped by the feeding means to one side of the center line of the blank and carried along with the feeding means. In this part of the machine, the side fiap adjacent the edge 4 is folded inwardly, the crease Illa made, and the stripe of glue II applied to the blank. The next section of the machine is generally indicated by numeral l6, and in this section, the other side fiap adjacent the edge 3 is folded over on top of the previously folded side flap, the crease 9a formed, the score line I2 placed upon the blank, and the bottom fold-up part of the blank is kicked upwardly ready for the bottom fold-up to be secured in the next section of the machine. All this occurs, of course, while the blank travels continuously, but in this portion of the machine the grip by the feeding means upon the blank has been changed to the opposite side of the center line of the blank.

In that section of the machine generally indicated by numeral ll, the securing of the bottom fold-up is completed and the gripping action of the feeding means has been transferred to the exact central portion of the blank, so that the gripping is concentrated directly over the glued parts of the now formed cup, and the cup is started on its way back to that end of the machine from which it began its journey. r

The cup returns to the starting end oi the machine on a lower deck or level beneath its previous course of travel in the opposite direction. All the way along this lower deck portion, generally indicated by numeral E8, the cup is held gripped by the conveying means, and the gripping action is concentrated over the glued portions of the cup, so that the glue has sufllcient opportunity to set.

Underneath the first described portion of the machine I3 is the final portion generally indicated by numeral l9. This is the receiving mechanism in which the cup is partially expanded, stacked in nested relationship with previously received cups, and the cups are counted as they are stacked.

The machine is provided with a suitable supporting frame 20 upon which is disposed a bed plate 2|. Mounted on the bed plate 2| at the head end of the machine is a pair of opposite side members 22 shaped to support the structure in the portion of the machine generally indicated by numerals l3 and I4. "In the portions l and iii of the machine, other side plates 23 and N are disposed on the bed plate. on each side of the mechanism. These side plates are connected near the top and lower portions thereof by fixed cross rods 25. At the opposite end of the machine, a pair of side frame members in the form of wings 26 are provided. It will be appreciated that the various shafts are journaled in any suitable manner in the respective frame members,-

with the exception of certain shafts to be later described, and further details as to the frame construction and the journaling of various shafts need not be provided herein, since such construction will be understood by one skilled in the art and the particular frame members will be shaped regularly or irregularly as will be most feasible to carry the structure with which they are associated.

It will also not; be necessary herein to specifically describe the driving mechanism, it being sufficient to point out various chain drives and gear trains hereinafter so arranged and'so proportioned to drive each particular shaft at its proper speed in synchronism with the otheropcrating parts of the machine. chine is preferably driven from a drive wheel 21 carried by a main drive shaft 28 seen in the left hand portion of Figure 12. The drive wheel 21 The entire maother shaft, and indirectly from the drive shaft 28. It will be further understood that where rolls are arrangedin pairs, such as the scoring Blank pulling mechanism With reference now to Figures 13 and 14, it will be seen that the blanks I are initially banked in the sloping hopper 29, any suitable means being used if so desired to urge the blanks forwardly against the front wall 8% of the hopper. The wall so is spaced above the bottom of the hopper 29 so as to leave a portion of the forwardmost blank exposed for contact by the combing roller. A bracket 36 supports the hopper wall 39 and is carried by a fixed non-rotatable sleeve 32 in turn supported by a shaft 133 which is rotatable relatively to the sleeve. With reference to Figure 15, it will be seen that the shaft 33 is driven by a suitable chain drive lid.

Rotatable with the shaft 33 is a combing roll 35 provided with a plurality of pairs of friction or suction plugs 38, the plugs in each pair being circumferentially spaced apart a short distance. In this instance, the combing roll carries three pairs of such plugs, which are made of rubber or any other suitable material, and so with each revolution of the combing roll, three separate blanks will be withdrawn from the hopper 29. The plugs 36 are hollow and each connects through a radial passage 31 and a transverse passage 38 with the outer side face of the combing roll, the combing roll being recessed on this face to receive a flange 39 integral with the aforesaid fixed sleeve 32. The transverse passages 38 terminate adjacent the flange 3! so that they are in successive communication with a pair of spaced hollows l0 and ll in the flange. The hollow or recess 40 is in direct connection with a conduit 42 leading to any suitable source of suction. The

hollow or recess II is in direct communication with the atmosphere through a suitable port 42. It is therefore apparent that as the combing roll 35 rotates towards'the magazine 29, each pair of circumferentially spaced suction plugs may contact the first blank beneath the front wall 30. Substantially at the time both plugs are in contact with the blank, the horizontal passages 38 successively communicate with the aforesaid recess 40, thus creating a suction through the plugs 26 to hold the lower portion of the blank firmly attached to the roll. The combing roll pulls the blank downwardy out of the magazine between itself and a pair of adjacent belts N which travel along in keeping with the circumference of the combing roll. When the blank is carried sumciently for the passages 38 to coincide with the recess ll, which is open to the atmosphere, the suction is automatically broken and the blank is released upon the belts to be carried along therewith.

It will thus be seen that one blank only is removed from the hopper 29 at a time, but that during a single rotation of the combing roll, three successive blanks are removed from the hopper in properly spaced order for single file travel through the machine.

The belts 44 are preferably endless and are trained over a pair of driven pulleys 45 (Figures 15 and 16) a pair of adjustably positionable pulleys 4646,'and a pair of higher pulleys 41 (Figure 13) positioned so that the belts will be in contact with theface of the combing roll 35 for a portion of its revolution. The upper pulleys 41 are supported on the free end of a crank arm 48 fixed on a shaft 49. Another crank arm 50 also fixed to this shaft and depending therefrom is urged rearwardly by a tension spring adjustably connected to an arm 52. The pulleys 41, together with the belts 44, are thus constantly urged towards the combing roll 35, forming in effect a friction gauge, and any wear of any part is automatically compensated for.

One or more links 53, suitably connected to a frame part of the machine, aid in maintaining the pulleys 45 in proper position. The lower part of the frame portion is slotted, as indicated at 54, to permit adjustment of the pulleys 46-46, these pulleys being positionable at any desired point along the slot 54. An elongated set screw 55 is adjustably positioned in the crank arm 58, abuts a stop 56 on the arm 52, and may be used, together with the adjustable attachment 'of the spring 5|, to regulate the pressure of the belts 44 against the combing roll 35.

In order to insure that the circumferential surface of the combing roll as well as the plugs 36 are kept in a clean condition, a rotary brush 51 or the equivalent rides upon the surface of the combing roll, as seen best in Figure I3. This brush may be driven by any suitable means, such as a chain drive 58, from a suitable sprocket carried by the combing roll shaft 33.

The registering mechanism and primary scoring means After the combing roll 35 releases a blank, it is carried along on the twin belts 44-44 in position to have its trailing arpuate edge 2 engaged by a plurality of pins 59 protruding from several similar chains 60, as best seen in Figures and 16. In this instance, there are four such chains 60, and the pins on the inner pair of chains are offset out of alignment with the pins 59 on the outer two chains in keeping with the curvature of the edge 2 of the ,blank. All four chains are similarly driven and each is trained in quadrilateral formation over a similar set of four sprockets, including a sprocket 6| carried by a driven shaft 62, and three sprockets 63, 64 and 65, respectively, each mounted upon a free shaft, as seen in Figure 16.

It will be noted that the chains 69 are disposed below the belts 44, with the pins projecting above the belts, so that the blanks ride in successive order over the belts being moved forwardly by the pins. The blanks move along between a pair of suitable side guide rails 6666. In order to expedite rapid production, the pins 59 are spaced along the chains 60 at various intervals, so that more than one blank may be moved along by the pins at one time. It is, therefore, necessary to center or position a blank properly relatively to a transverse series of pins 59, so that each blank will be carried through the machine so as to reach each forming or shaping mechanism at the proper time.

In this instance, the centering or registering means are in the form of retarding elements to cause a blank to drag on the moving belts 44 until the blank is positively engaged and moved described. Each of the channels is provided with a series of apertures in the bottom thereof, and in each aperture a metallic ball is disposed, the ball being of less size than its respective aperture so that it may ride freely on the blank I.

With reference to Figures 15 and 17, it will be seen that the outer channels carry a series of balls 63 and the inner channel carries a series of balls 10, the balls in the inner channel being preferably larger than the balls in the outer channels. These balls 69 and 10, riding upon the blank, will retard the blank regardless of the movement of the belts 44 until the blank is positively engaged by the pins 59 and thereafter advanced uniformly by the pins.

The forward pulley 45 associated with the belts 44 is disposed beneath the center .channel 68 so that these 'belts are in overlapping relationship with a centrally disposed belt H trained over a series of pulleys, including a driven pulley 12 and a pair of pulleys on a free shaft. The upper end of the belt 1| is on the same level with the belts 44, and after the blank is passed beyond the belts 44, it is carried over the belt 1| by the pins 59 until the leading portion of the blank is taken by gripping conveying means to be later described.

The blank next passes between a scoring roller 15 on a driven shaft 16 and a backing roll 11 on the aforesaid shaft 62, which'latter shaft is driven by a suitable gear connection from the shaft 16. With reference to Figure 18, it will be seen forwardly by the pins 59. The retarding mechanism includes a pair of outside channels 61-61 and an inner channel 68 extending forwardly beyond the outer channels. The outer channels 61 are preferably disposed directly over the twin belts 44, and the inner channel 68 is disposed between these belts and over a belt to be later that the scoring roller 16 is provided with an outstanding edge portion 18 designed to provide the score line 3 on the blank as seen in Figure 2. The backing roll 11 may have a depression opposite the die part 18, and the. backing roll is fur ther provided with a central circumferential recess 19 to accommodate the aforesaid belt 1|.

As the blank passes from beneath the scoring roller 15, it passes between another scoring roller 8|! on a driven shaft 9| and the aforesaid pulley 12, which pulley is elongated to form a backing for the scoringroller 89 as seen best in Figure 19. The pulley 12 is centrally recessed so that the belt 1| will ride over the pulley flush with the face of the pulley. The scoring roller 89 is provided with a die portion 82 shaped to provide the score lines 9 and I!) (Figure 3) on the blank to define the lines of fold for the side flaps of the blank, and the pulley 12 may be accordingly recessed if so desired. The shaft of the pulley 12 is, preferably driven by a suitable gear in mesh with a gear 83 carried by the shaft ill, and the gear 83 in turn mesheswith another gear carried by another shaft and is also trained to actuate the shaft 16, so that the drive of one shaft by another is had either through a gear train or through chain and sprocket connections as above mentioned.

Such a method of drive is embodied throughout the entire machine, and wherever rolls are disposed in superposed position, the two shafts of drawings, they will not be specifically described hereinafter for the purpose of avoiding prolixity.

The first folding mechanism and gluing means The mechanism which initially folds the side flaps of the blank into position and also the glu- 13 and 14 each mounted of the blank so as to permit free action for the folding of the side flap adjacent the edge 4 on the score line I8 (Figure The upper belt '84 is trained over a pulley 88 of a driven shaft 81, a pulley 88 on a free shaft, and a free rider roll 88 keeps the belt under proper tension. Likewise, the lower belt 85 is trained over a pulley 88 on a driven shaft 8|, driven from the shaft 81, a pulley 82 on a free shaft, and a rider roll 88 maintains this belt under proper tension.

The confronting horizontal tracts of the belts 84 and 85 are held in tight confronting relationship under pressure by means of a series of upper rollers 84 bearing on the belt 84 and a series of lower rollers 85 bearing on the belt 85 inside the horizontal portionsof the respective belts. With reference more particularly to Figures 22 and 23, it will be seen that the upper rollers are grouped in pairs and supported on a bracket 88 depending from adjacent frame rods 25, the bracket having a horizontally extending shelf portion 81 which carries the upper series of rollers. Each pair of rollers is held upon a yoke member 88 carried on a bolt 88 having a smoothshank portion extending freely through the shelf 81. A suitable spring I88 is disposed between the shelf and the yoke 88 to constantly urge the the horizontal tract of the belt .84.

The bottom series of rollers 85 are individually carried each on a stub shaft engaged in an upwardly extending supporting bracket I8I carried by adjacent lower frame bars 25.

From the showing in Figure 21, it is apparent that the upper and lower rollers 84 and 85 are sumciently numerous and disposed so closely together as to maintain a fairly even compression of the horizontal tracts of the belts 84 and 85 so that these portions of the belts Provide a firm and positive gripping action upon the blank moving along therewith. With reference to Figure 16, it will be seen that the belts 84 and 85 take a gripping hold of the blank before it is entirely released by the scoring roller 88 and the backing pulley 12, so that the blank has no chance to get out of alignment. No pressure is necessary .on' the bottom series of rollers 85, because eachpair of upper rollers is urged downwardly against the upper belt by one of the springs I88.

As the blank is carried along by the belts 84 and 85, the free portion of the blank passes between a pair of folding rolls I82 and I83 which elevate the side flap ofthe blank adjacent the edge 4 to the position seen in the central portion of Figure 20. With reference to Figures 22 and 23. it will be seen that the folding rollers I82 and I88 are mounted upon a pair of stub shafts I84 and-"I85, respectively, both journaled in a frame bracket I88. The lower shaft I85 is driven.

by a suitable sprocket chain I81, and the upper shaft is driven by the lower shaft by virtue of a pair of, like gears I88.

The folding rollers are, of course, complemental in nature, and each is preferably arranged with similar half circumferential portions, so that the folding rollers may act upon two separate blanks, one following the other, on each complete revolution of a folding roller. The rollers are preferably continuously rotating.

From Figures 22 and 23, it will be noted that the upper folding roller I82 is provided on each side thereof with an outstanding die portion I88 extending obliquely across the roller and a pair of transverse die parts II8 connecting the ends of the portions I88. The lower roller I83 is recessed on opposite sides, as indicated at III, and is also provided with certain outstanding die parts II2. As seen best in Figure 23, when the blank is received between the folding rollers, one

of the parts I88 of the upper roller forces the blank into a recess 1 II in the lower roller, causing the blank to be bent at right angles and thus elevating a flap of the blank. The oblique disposition of the element I88 in the upper roller, in its association with the complemental portions of the lower roller, causes the elevated portion of the blank to be continued in an upward direction until the entire side flap of the blank has been elevated to the position seen in Figure along'the score line I8."

After being so elevated by the folding rollers,

the blank next passesbeneath a horizontally disposed continuously rotating plate II3 which I presses the side flap of the blank downwardly respective pair of rollers 84 downwardly against s over the body portion of the blank to the position seen in Figure 4. This plate is carried on the upper end of a vertical shaft journaled in a bracket II4 carried by the frame of the machine and is driven by means of a suitable chain drive II5 from the shaft of asimilar plate to be later described. As the blank is forced beneath the plate, the side flap is creased along the score line I8 to provide the side crease I8a seen in Figure 4.

m Immediately after being so creased, the blank passes between a glue applying roller H8 and a suitable backing roller II1 when the glue stripe II seen in Figure 5 is applied to the blank. With reference to Figures 26, 27 and 28, it will be seen that the gluing roller H8 is provided with a pair of outstanding die portions II8 which function as glue applicators. In Figure 28, the circumference II8a of the glue applying roller is shown developed in the flat. With this construction, noting that the die portions I I8 are spaced apart, a stripe of adhesive II is applied to each of two successive blanks in one revolution of the glue roll. The backing roller H1 is preferably merely a smooth surfaced roller.

The preferable form of each die part H8 is.

of glue need be applied at and adjacent the pro-- jection 1, so that none will be squeezed out when the pressure is applied to the several thicknesses of stock adjacent the end fold. The glue applied by the sequential glue wheel H8 is of such an amount as to spread properly under pressure but not squeeze out or form a substantially visible spot when dry.

Glue is supplied to the roller I I8 from a glue pot- II8 (Figures 20 and 21) in which a pick-up roller I28 extends, this roller carrying glue on the circumference thereof and transferring it to an intermediate roller I 2|, which in turn transfers glue to the dieportions M8 on the roller H5. -Both the rollers I and IZI are journaled in a fixed arm I22 carried by one of the frame bars 25.

The second side flap folding means, final scoring means, and end folding means This mechanism is all contained in that portion of the machine generally indicated by numeral I6 in Figure 11. It is best seen with reference to Figures 24, and 29.

Before the remaining side fiap of the blank can be folded inwardly over the gluedmargin of the first folded side flap, it is necessary to transfer the gripping action of the conveying means to the opposite side of the median line of the blank.

- To this end, the blank is next taken by a pair of belts I23 and I24 similar in character to the previously described belts 84 and 85 but located so as to grip the opposite or previously folded portion of the blank. With reference to Figures 20 and 24, it will be seen that the belts I23 and I24 are in overlapping relationship with the belts proper tension. Likewise, the lower belt I24 is trained over a pulley I28, a pulley I29, and a free rider roll I maintains proper tension on the belt. The confronting horizontal tracks of these belts are maintained in compressed association by means of a series of spring-pressed upper rollers 94 and a series of lower rollers 95 of the I2 on the blank.

exact nature as those previously described. The

upper rollers are supported on a bracket 96, the lower rollers on a bracket IOI, and each series of rollers rides the inside part of the respective belts, just as previously described.

As the blank is carried along between the belts I23 and I24, it passes'between a pair of folding rollers I3I and I32 of the same general character and construction as the forming rollers I02 and I03 previously described, but of course of opposite disposition, since the folding rollers I3I and I32 elevate the opposite fiap of the blank, namely, the side fiap adjacent the edge 3, as seen in Figure 24. After the elevation ofthis side flap, the blank passes beneath a horizontally disposed rotating plate I 33 mounted on the upper end of the shaft driven'by a suitable chain drive I34 from parts to be later described. The plate I33 is of the same nature and function as the previously described plate II3. Upon passing beneath the plate I33, the second side flap of the blank is pressed down into position over the glued margin of the first side flap, providing the side crease 9a along the score line 9, .and the blank is then in the form seen in Figure 6. After the above described folding operation, the blank is next provided with a transverse-score line I2 defining the bottom fold-up seen in Figure 7. This is accomplished when the blank passes between a scoring roll I35 and a suitable backing roll I36. With reference to Figure 29, it will be seen that the scoring roll I35 is provided erably recessed as indicated at I38 adjacent the,

trailing side of each die element I37, so that each element may readily provide a clean score line The next operation is the provision of the bottom fold-up along the score line I2.

To this end, a continuously rotating folding arm I39 is provided, the arm being attached at its center to the end of a stub shaft I40 journaled in a suitable bearing bracket I4 I. The arm itself is disposed to one side of the path of the blank, and from each end of the arm a pin I42 extends horizontally over the path of the blank, each pin being equipped with a trailing wiper I43. The armjs of such length that one of the pins I42 may contact the leading end of the continuously traveling blank, elevate this end, while the other pin I42 missesthe trailing edge 2 of th blank. For each revolution of the arm I39, a fold-up is made on each oftwo successive blanks.

To insure a clean bottom along the score line I2, a fixed plate I44 having an upturned end I45 is disposed opposite the shaft the blank passes beneath this plate I 44, and when the score line I2 coincides with the edge I46 of the plate, the leading endportion of the blank is struck upwardly by one of the pins or bars I42, and the blank is folded against the edge I46 of the plate. The wiper I43 carried by the pin I 42 maintains'the end portion of the blank in elevated position until the line of fold I 2a has entered a fiat chute I48 which is equipped with a flaring mouth I49 to facilitate the entry of the folded portion of the blank. The chute is disposed to one side of the conveying belts I23 and I24, so that the end fold-up portion of the blank must pass through the chute and the bottom fold-up is thereby laid flatly against the body of the cup, the formed blank being then in the position seen in Figure 8.

It will be noted that when the blank has been so folded, owing to the first score line 8 illustrated in Figure .2, the projecting tab I is so weakened that it will not 'tend to spring away from the body of the cup, and the adhesive on the inner face of this tab will adhere to the body of the cup to firmly join the parts.

The final portion of the conveying means portions of the blank, the blank is next taken by another section of the conveying means and gripped firmly directly over the adhesived areas. The final conveying means are located in that portion of the machine generally indicated "by numerals I1 and I8 in Figure 11. This mechanism is best seen in Figures 11, 30 and 31.

Before the belts I23 and I24 release their g'rip upon the blank, it is gripped between another pair of belts I50-and I5I adjacent ends of which are in overlapped relationship with the adjacent ends of the belts I23 and I24. The belts;l50 and I5I are very long belts and extend from the termination of the belts I 23 and I24 all along the lower deck of the machine to substantially-the opposite end of the machine. The belt I50 is trained over a pulley same shaft as the a free pulley I54, and a pulley I55 adjacent the fold of the blank.

I40. After leaving the scoring roller I 35,,

nthe"" opposite end of the machine, as seen in Figure 11. In traveling from the upper deck to the lower deck, the operative portions of the: belt I50 rides the belt II over a large pulley I56 carried by the aforesaid drive shaft 26. A suitable chain drive I51 from the shaft 26 operates the shaft bearing the pulleys I26 and I52.

The belt I5I is trained over the large pulley I56, a pulley disposed on the same shaft as the pulley I26 directly beneath the pulley I52, a pulley. I 58 around a portion of which the flat side of the belt rides, and a pulley I56 at the opposite end of the machine. The belts track together and exercise a gripping action upon the blank from the pulley I52, over the large pulley I56, and all along the under deck of themachine to the pulleys I55 and I56. The belts are so located as to directly overlie the central portion of the blank and bear upon all the adhesived areas of the formed blank. Thus, the blank, formed into a cup, travels from the pulley I52 to the opposite end of the machine, during which time the glued portions are tightly pressed together-and the glue has sumcient time to set.

During. the lengthy travel along the lower deck of the machine beneath the mechanism previously described, the belts I50 and I5I are pressed tightly together by a series of spring-pressed upper rollers 64 and a series of lower rollers 65 exactly the same as above described. The upper rollers arecarried on a suitable framebar I50,

and the lower series of rollers by a suitable frame bar I6I.

With reference to Figure 31, it will be seen that a suitable chain I62 may connect the drive wheel 21 on the drive shaft 26 with' any suitable source of power, such as an electric motor.

The entire machine is preferably driven fromthis drive shaft 26.

The cup expanding and receiving mechanism are preferably metallic and aid in insuring that the resultant cup, in the case of drinking cups.

and the like, becomes water-tight if it is not already so by the time it reaches these rollers. It is desired that the rollers I66 and I64 apply relatively heavy pressure across the end fold, but afterwards shift the pressure or carrying contact to portions of the cup outside of the lued areas.

To this end, one or both of these rollers may be segmental as shown in the drawings, with the central part of a roller of slightly less diameter, as indicated at I63a, than the adjacent outer part on each side. The drop in diameter of the part IBM is of such amount that firm pressure 'will be applied to the multi-thicknesses of stock in the end fold, but when the end fold passes from between the rollers, the pressure on the cup is then applied on each side of the glued areas.

The rollers I66 and I64 deliver the cups in successive order to another pair of rollers I65 and I66. The roller I65 is a comparatively narrow roller of substantially the same width as the belt I5I and overrides the central or adhesived portions of the cup. This roller is carried on the vides room for a pair of air nozzles I66, and I10 disposed,on either side of the roller. These nozzles are connected through conduits HI and I12, respectively, to'a line I16 which may lead from any suitable source of compressed air. With the central portion of the cup held compressed between the rollers I65 and I66, the blast of air fromthe nozzles I66 and I10 expands the sideportions of the mouth end of the cup, and as soon as the cup is released by the rollers I65 and I66, the air blast further expands the mouth end of the cup and forcibly lodges the cup between a pair of continuously traveling similar belts I14 and I15, each of which is provided with a longitudinal V-shaped groove on the side facing the received'cup. At the time the cup is received by the traveling belts I14 and I15, it is also automatically nested within previously received cups and held in its partially expanded condition by the belts which are sufllciently close together to maintain the cup expanded to the position seen in Figures 9 and 10. The belt I15 is trained over a driven pulley I16, a free rider roll I11, and a pulley I16. In like manner, the belt I14 is trained over a pulley I16, a pulley I60, and a free rider roll I6I. The pulley I16 is disposed upon a vertical shaft having a bevel gear I62 at the lower end which connects with a similar gear on a shaft I66 driven from the shaft carrying the pulley I55 by a suitable chain drive I64'. The pulley I16 for the belt I14 is similarly mounted and similarly driven.

The pulleys I and I16 are carried on'the outer ends of a pair of arms I and I66 respectively. As indicated by dotted lines in Figure 32. these arms are provided with slots for receivinz the pulley bearings, so that the pulleys I16 and I60 may be adjusted towards the-path of the cups to make the cup receiving tracts of the belts converge and thus cause a greater expansion of the cup, if so desired. The driven pulleys I16 and I16 are mounted on arms of similar nature but without adjustment slots. A pair of free riders rolls I61 and I66, carried on a suitable cross frame structure, maintains the confronting cupreceiving tracts of the belts in proper alignment.

The nested cups are moved along by the belts I14 and I15 over a bottom member I66 and discharged by the belts onto this bottom member between a pair of side guards Ill-I60, from which structure the cups may be removed and placed in cartons for shipment.

' It may be desirable, for convenience in packaging the cups, to employ a counting mechanism,.

each two-hundred and fiftieth one, is visibly marked. To this end, a suitable marking implement I6I which, for example, may be a spur or a pencil, is carried on the free end of an arm I62- fixed to rotate with a shaft I66. This shaft I66 is periodically rotated a fraction of a revolution sumcient to bring the point of the marking imfree end of a pivotal crank arm I61, the other plement into contact with the cup then disposedtherebeneath between the belts I14 and I15, by an arm I64, the free end of which periodically falls into a groove or notch in the surface of a cam wheel I65 floating on the aforesaid shaft I66 (Figure 32).

The cam I65 is connected to rotate with a ratchet wheel I66, intermittently rotated by a pawl I61 through the medium of a link I66. The ratchet wheel is also floating on the shaft I66 and is rotated preferably one tooth at a time by. the

The ratchet wheel contains a predeterpawl. mined number of teeth in accordance with the number of the cups to be marked. For example, if every two hundredth cup is to be marked by the implement I9I, then the ratchet wheel embodies two-hundred teeth.

The mechanism for periodically operating the link I93 is not visible in the drawings, but the operation thereof is responsive to a latch member I99 fixed to a shaft 200 which is rotated by a tripper I, the free end of which extends upwardly into the path of a traveling cup, as seen best in Figure 33. With the passage of each cup, the tripper 20I is knocked down, releasing the latch I99 and permitting a movement, of the.

ratchet wheel I95. In'the event a cup fails to pass by the tripper 2IlI, the tripper is not moved and the latch I99 prevents actuation of the ratchet wheel.

The'receiving and counting mechanisms just] above described are more fully set forth and described, as well as claimed, in my aforesaid copending application, Serial No. 215,125, filed June THE OPERATION The operation of the constituent parts of the machine has been hereinbefore set forth with the description of such parts to such an extent that it will only be necessary herein to briefly summarize the operation of the machine as a whole. It will be remembered that preferably 'all movable parts of the machine operate continuously, with the exception of the intermittently operable parts of the counting mechanism.

Referring to Figures 1 to 12, inclusive, the

blanks'are banked in the hopper 29, with the projecting tab I of each blank downward. The blanks are successively removed from the hopper in proper sequence by the combing roll between itself and the traveling twin belts 4444. When released from the combing roll, each blank travels along the twin belts 4444, is retarded by the balls 69 and I0 'in the channels 61 and 68, until it is properly registered and picked up by the pins 59 projecting from the traveling chains position. While still engaged by the belts 84 and 95, the blank passes beneath the glue applying roller II 5 which provides the stripe of adhesive I I upon the partially folded blank.

After the application of adhesive, the blank is engaged prior to its ultimate release by the belts 84 and 85, by another pair of traveling belts I23 and I24 which grips the blank on the opposite side of the median line to permit the other side flap of the blank adjacent the edge 3 to .be elevated by folding rollers I3I and I32, and this flap is pressed into position by a rotating plate I33.

. n 6 the principles of this Still carried by the belts I23 and I24, the blank next passes beneath a scoring roller I35 which provides the score lin I2, seen in Figure 7, and immediately thereafter passes under the fixed plate I44 and the bottom portion is kickedup by one of the bars I42 on the folding arm I39. Passing through the chute I48, to insure the proper bottom fold-up, the blank is then centrally engaged by the belts I59 and I5I, these belts gripping the now formed blank directly over the adhesived portions thereof.

The formed cup is carried by the belts I59 and I5I over the large pulley wheel I56 and returned along the lower deck of the machine, with the adhesived portions tightly held, so that the adhesive may properly set. These belts deliver the cup to the receiving mechanism, where it is partially expanded by compressed air and so forcibly iodgedbetween the traveling belts I14 and I15 which may further expand the cup or maintain the expansion it already has, depending upon the adjustment of the pulleys I18 and I80. The belts also maintain the cup in nested relationship with previously received cups, transferring the stacked nested cups to a position for ultimate removal and packaging in a carton. As the cups are fed to the receiving means, they are counted and each predetermined cup is visibly marked by the element I9I, so that it is a simple expedient to remove a portion of the stack of cups embodying the proper number of cups for a single carton.

It will be appreciated that once the blanks leave the hopper 29, they are in continuous motion until they emerge from the receiving means in the form of stacked nested cups. The blanks cannot get out of alignment at any time during the passage through the machine because, while the locations of the gripping holds upon the blank are shifted from time to tim to permit various forming operations, the grippings on the various portions are so overlapped that the blank is never at any time released. It will be further appreciated that with substantially all. of the forming elements of the machinearranged to operate on a plurality of blanks following each other other in single file during a single revolution of each respective forming element, the trav- "el of the blank through the machine is exceedingly rapid and the blanks may closely together.

From the foregoing. it is apparent that I have provided a machine for making paper cups, particularly cups substantially wedge-shaped, in which a blank has portions thereof folded directly upon itself in the flat to form it into a cup,

be disposed quite there being nothing around which the blank is folded in order to shape it into a cup. It is further apparent that the machine, being continuously operable and maintaining each blank in continuous motion, produces paper cups at an exceedingly rapid rate, thus materially" economizing production. tively simple in construction, highly eflicient in operation, very durable, and may be economically operated.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of ied through a wide range without departing from invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than'is I claim as my invention:

-1. In a machine of the forming elements arranged paper blank and fold portions of the blank on other portions thereof to form the blank into a flat envelope type drinking cup, said forming elements being entirely exterior of the blank, conveying means arranged to carry a plurality character described. to act upon a flat of blanks simultaneously and in successive order past said forming elements, means to deliver blanks in spaced successive order to said conveying means,

Further, the machine is relaconstruction may be varnecessitated by the prior art.

retarding means arranged to insure 

